OVERVIEW

The course aims to introduce the theory of formal languages and its application to compiler design. Particular emphasis will be placed on designing applications for human-computer interaction and for the design of web-based systems. 

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course objective is to provide the tools, both formal and practical, for the definition of programming languages ​​and their translators and provide application design skills and interoperable web systems in compliance with international standards. The course aims to provide a necessary preparation to the formation of the profiles of the Information Engineers skills that are emerging at national and European level .

LEARNING OUTCOMES (FURTHER INFO)

For the above purposes the course is organized into three parts:

1. The first part introduces the “reference models” for computer science and describes the basic properties and representations of the main types of formal languages;
2. The second part analyzes the structure of compilers, examining the main phases of the translation process, the issues associated with each of them and the relevant solution techniques;
3. The third part provides basic tools for natural language processing, in order to design human-machine interaction for semantic and personalized access to information. Will be introduced also the mechanisms for access to information in the context of the so-called Web 2.0, and the Web of Data.

Expected learning outcomes:

To acquire knowledge, skills and competencies necessary for a computer engineer for:

·     be able to relate the results of the theory of formal languages with the basic techniques for constructing lexical and syntactical analyzers of programming languages,

also be able to use the results of the theory of formal languages for the design of human-machine interfaces and for the design of interoperable web systems, and also understand how web standards are not limited to the design, but rather a way to create a new generation of web applications that make it possible to reduce costs of design, development and quality control in compliance with current regulations and in terms of accessibility.

TEACHING METHODS

During the course will be required the student to participate in the development of:

• a Project group or individual (developed during the exercises) in which the student will use tools and methods seen in class.

Students will also invited to participate to a Discussion Forum on topics introduced during the lesson on the portal of the course.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Parte I – Models and Languages

• Automata and Turing machines
• Introduction of theory of formal languages
• Chomsky Hierarchy
• Programming Languages Evolution
• Foundation of Programming Languages

Parte II – Compilers and Interpreters

• Architecture of a compiler
• Syntax directed translation
• Lexical analysis
• Syntactic analysis
• Semantic analysis and intermediate code generation

Parte III – Natural Language Processing and Web 2.0

• Introduction to computational linguistics
• Natural Language Generation
• Intelligent information retrieval
• Social tagging, folksonomie and Linked Data

Practice and Laboratory

• Generation of lexical analyzers
• Generation of translators
• Development of an indivudual/collective project

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

• A.V. Aho, M.S. Lam, R. Sethi, J.D. Ullman. Compilers: Principles, Techniques, and Tools, Pearson/Addison-Wesley, 2007. Italian Edition (2009): Compilers: principles, techniques and tools.
• G.Rossi, O.Pastor, D.Schwabe, L.Olsina, Web Engineering: Modelling and Implementing Web Applications, Springer, 2008.
• W3C, Web Design and Applications: http://www.w3.org/standards/webdesign/.
• G. Adorni. Notes made available on the web portal.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

GIOVANNI ADORNI (President)

MARCO MARATEA

ARMANDO TACCHELLA

LESSONS

LESSONS START

Classes are held during the first half.

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The final examination consists in a discussion about the project and an assessment of the arguments posted in the Forum during the course.

Exam schedule

FURTHER INFORMATION

Suggested Prerequisites:

Basic knowledge on procedural programming languages, on client and server side programming, and on scripting languages.